This summer I have two planned Cali vacations - one mostly in the mountains and one at mostly at the beach. Just waiting for best time since some destinations are often as good or better in late summer than earlier.
1) Over to Snow Mountain Wilderness for camping for a couple days. Then on into Mendocino Nat'l Forest via Upper Clear Lake area for hiking, camping, ending up at beautiful Russian Gulch State Park for camping, hiking, biking, and beach combing.
2) Drive straight through to San Luis Obispo County out to Avila Beach - right at 5 hrs from Sac. A real hidden gem and much better IMO than more crowded, colder, foggy, Morro Bay or Pismo Beach. The cliffs behind Avila Beach reflect sun down onto nice stretch of beach keeping it often ideal weather when cooler temps prevail at other nearby beaches. Ending up by spending time in next door Ventura County at friends and relatives.
How to vote? Both outings have beaches with one also having mountains as a big part. Ok, I selected - ocean/beaches.